Find out what other moms-to-be are asking. Join in the discussion with Henci Goer, whose expertise is determining what the research tells us best promotes safe, healthy birth. If you would like to contact Henci outside of the Ask Henci forum, send an email to Goersitemail@aol.com.

i'm pregnant with my first child and i'm a bit nervous about the
delivery. I'm having trouble deciding if i should go to the
hospital or a birth center. I've read lots of thing from different
sites that other women have posted and the birthing center sounds
so much more enjoyable and relaxing than the hospital, but i can't
find any information on if they give you pain medication at a
birthing center. I want to try to have it naturally but if i can't
then i want to have the option of having pain medication. i haven't
taken any classes and i'm not going to have time to finish them;
i'm moving in may, then again in june, then having the baby in
july. and i'm not sure if i could handle doing it naturally without
them. i can't figure out if i should go to the birthing center and
risk not being able to deal with the pain, or go to the
hospital.

First the bad news: a few freestanding birth centers may give
pain medication but most don't because of the potential adverse
effects on mom and baby. The good news is that it is rare
for a woman to transfer to the hospital in labor solely because she
wants pain meds--although that will certainly be an option should
that be the case for you. Why? Not because women who choose birth
centers are somehow different from the common run but because: (1)
routine and frequently used hospital procedures (labor induction,
oxytocin to strengthen contractions, IV drips) and restrictions
(confinement to bed, forbidding food and drink) increase pain, and
(2) birth centers offer comfort measures in labor that women
themselves rate as highly effective that hospitals rarely do (deep
tub immersion, showers, birth balls, rocking chairs) and, as you
yourself said, a relaxed, homey environment where staff are
supportive and encouraging. Anxiety and stress also
increase pain. I also recommend that whether you can get childbirth
classes or not, hire a doula. A doula is a woman with training and
experience in doing labor support. Several organizations certifiy
doulas. Here is an article
of mine that will answer some questions you might have and
another
that will help you choose one.

-- Henci

All Times America/New_York

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